Teaching of Ancient Greek in Italy

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Abstract

This article outlines the study of Ancient Greek in Italy from its beginnings in the Roman world down to the modern age.

The long-standing tradition of the teaching of Ancient Greek (AG) in Italy is rooted in at least the Roman world. Suetonius (Gram. 1.2) claims that Livius Andronicus, the initiator of Latin literature, and Ennius were recorded to have taught in both languages [i.e., Greek and Latin] in Rome and abroad. Further, Ennius used to say that he had three hearts because he could speak Greek, Oscan, and Latin (Gell. NA 17.17…